Hampshire Cricket Statement On Penalties Imposed By ECB On Durham CCC

Hampshire Cricket will remain in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship in 2017 in place of Durham who have been relegated as part of a range of conditions and sanctions imposed by ECB following a financial aid package to help Durham meet historic and future financial demands.

Hampshire Cricket deeply regrets the situation that Durham finds itself in and sends its sincere sympathies to the Club, its players, staff and of course its loyal supporters.

Hampshire Chairman, Rod Bransgrove said: “I have enormous sympathy for Durham and the financial difficulties that they currently find themselves in.

“I also fully endorse the support of ECB in helping one of its 18 first-class stakeholders to survive in the long-term and am satisfied that the sanctions imposed as a result of Durham’s circumstances are fair and have been well considered. Of course, the fact that Hampshire benefit from all of this is fortuitous for the Club and will give us all a great boost as we plan for next summer.

“Given the unprecedented list of injuries that we faced this year, I believe that we will not discredit the First Division next season and I am very much looking forward to seeing what the 2017 campaign will bring with a full-strength and enhanced Hampshire squad.”